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Blackstone Minerals Completes Ta Khoa Nickel Concentrator Pilot Program

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Blackstone Minerals (ASX: BSX) continues to make progress at the company’s Ta Khoa project in Vietnam.

Blackstone Minerals announced completion of the Ta Khoa Nickel (TKN) plant pilot program along with progress toward completion of a variability testwork program at the existing mine site.

The completion of the TKN pilot program is in addition to Blackstone completing the Ta Khoa Refinery (TKR) pilot program.

Blackstone said the work it has carried out to date has confirmed the baseline flowsheet to treat ore through to concentrate from the nickel mine.

Both pilot and variability testwork programs achieved or exceeded pre-feasibility study (PFS) testwork assumptions.

The company highlighted these as important milestones for the site metallurgy and project team as they should enable consolidation of data and learnings to progress the TKN mine and concentrator definitive feasibility study (DFS).

“Testwork at Ban Phuc is approaching completion and continues to build our understanding of the disseminated sulphide ore body whilst addressing key recommendations arising from independent review of the PFS works,” Blackstone Minerals managing director Scott Williamson said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“The program has been conducted safely at our site facilities and is providing substantial knowledge, training, and understanding for our project and technical teams.

“Importantly, the results to date validate, support and in many areas improve on PFS assumptions and criteria that will underpin our definitive feasibility study.

“Outputs confirm that our project flowsheet will be suitable for processing of Ban Phuc ores to deliver critical feedstock for our downstream refinery, confirming our strategy for developing the Ta Khoa Project, being an integrated mine to pCAM project.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Blackstone Minerals Inks Vietnam REE Menage a Trois

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Blackstone Minerals (ASX: BSX has joined a three-way Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on opportunities to develop a fully integrated rare earths mine to metals value chain in Vietnam.

Blackstone has entered the MoU with Vietnam Rare Earths JSC (VTRE) and ASX-listed, Australian Strategic Materials (ASX: ASM).

Blackstone brings its upstream mining and processing experience to the MoU table, with a world class in-country team located within the Northwest Vietnam rare earth district.

VTRE owns and operates the only Vietnamese midstream rare earths refinery and is seeking a strategic partner to develop upstream mining and processing capability.

ASM is an emerging vertically integrated producer of critical metals for advanced and clean technologies with a deep understanding of downstream processing of rare earths and the rare earth market.

Vietnam boasts the world’s largest rare earth element (REE) Reserves outside of China, the majority of which sit in the Northwest Region of the country, close to Son La Province where Blackstone’s Ta Khoa nickel project is located.

It is thought numerous potentially very high-grade REE deposits are available to be permitted and developed by companies that can demonstrate a full value chain capability and deliver a “mine to metal” REE hub in Vietnam.

VTRE is a mover and shaker in Vietnam and has owned and operated the country’s only midstream REE refinery for the past 12 years with the vision to become a prestige producer and supplier of rare earth products and expand the product ranges to deliver multi options for customer needs whilst focussing on researching and using advanced technology for production.

In April 2023, VTRE entered into a binding agreement with ASM for the supply of rare earth oxides with the intention to progress long term supply agreements potentially utilising Vietnam’s natural resources.

“It is not often that you find a potential partnership in which the strategic advantages and core competencies of each party are so complementary,” Blackstone Minerals managing director Scott Williamson said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“For Blackstone, a potential move into Rare Earths in Vietnam aligns with our Technology Mineral strategy and is synergistic to our Ta Khoa project and our existing relationships in the EV industry; for VTRE, teaming up with Blackstone gives VTRE access to our extensive knowledge in ESG management, mining, minerals processing and refining; for ASM, it is a great opportunity to extend their relationship with VTRE and in to progress their vision of full vertical integration in critical minerals.

“With this MoU, Blackstone, VTRE and ASM will progress discussions with the view of potentially establishing a world leading fully integrated rare earths business.”

 

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

 

Blackstone Minerals Keeps News Flow Humming with Ta Khoa Drilling Update

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Blackstone Minerals (ASX: BSX) has been busy drilling at the company’s Ta Khoa nickel project (TKN) in northern Vietnam.

Blackstone Minerals reported assays for the most recent campaign of resource definition drilling at the King Snake Massive Sulphide Vein (MSV) deposit, which has confirmed continuity and extents of the high-grade massive sulphide core while demonstrating the presence of an associated ultramafic dyke with disseminated nickel-copper-PGE sulphide mineralisation.

Results from resource definition drilling at King Snake include:

KS22-05
6.2 metres at 0.73 per cent nickel, 0.89 per cent copper, 0.02 per cent cobalt and 3.32 grams per tonne PGE from 191.8m, including 0.7m at 1.11 per cent nickel, 4.73 per cent copper, 0.05 per cent cobalt and 18.2g/t PGE from 192.65m;

KS22-15
2.35m at 2.09 per cent nickel, 0.9 per cent copper, 0.08 per cent cobalt and 1.77g/t PGE from 313.65; and

KS22-21
6.3m at 0.85 per cent nickel, 0.41 per cent copper, 0.03 per cent cobalt and 1.12g/t PGE from 70m, including 0.8m at 4.31 per cent nickel, 1.11 per cent copper, 0.16 per cent cobalt and 2.09g/t PGE from 74.65m.

Further assays were delivered for exploration drilling at the Suoi Phang MSV target located 12km west of the Ban Phuc nickel concentrator intersecting an ultramafic dyke with net-textured and massive nickel-copper sulphide veining.

“The resource definition drilling at King Snake confirms continuity of a high-grade nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE vein and associated ultramafic dyke system closely comparable to the Ban Phuc MSV that was successfully mined in the 2013 to 2016 period and is furthermore located only 1.2 kilometres from the operational Ban Phuc concentrator,” Blackstone Minerals managing director Scott Williamson said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“Additionally, assay results from the early-stage drilling at the Suoi Phang prospect highlight potential for further nickel MSV deposits within the Ta Khoa dome.

“We look forward to continuing to systematically assess the massive sulphide potential at Ta Khoa.”

 

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Web: www.blackstoneminerals.com.au

 

Blackstone Minerals Confirms Canadian Nickel Sulphides.

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Blackstone Minerals (ASX: BSX) reported on recent exploration activities on the company’s projects in Canada.

Blackstone Minerals completed a drilling campaign at its Gold Bridge gold and nickel-cobalt project in British Columbia and a review of prospecting and historic drill core at the Twilight nickel-copper Sulphide project in Labrador

Highlights from Gold Bridge include:

Jewel prospect:

Maiden drill hole JWD21-01

0.9m at 1.45 per cent copper, 0.56 per cent nickel and 0.19% Co from 376.7m, including 0.27m at 3.86 per cent copper, 1.63 per cent nickel, 0.62 per cent cobalt,1.49 g rams per tonne gold and 45g/t silver from 376.98m, with multiple gold intersections up to 0.3m at 5.7g/t gold.

Western Gem prospect:

Maiden drill hole WGD21-01

81m ultramafic-hosted disseminated sulphides at 0.21 per cent nickel from 65.36m

Reviewing historic drilling at the Twilight project revealed an intersection of up to 16m at 0.16 per cent nickel and 0.15 per cent copper from 151.7 m, including 0.55 m at 0.34 per cent nickel, 0.36 per cent copper and 374ppm cobalt from 159.15 m associated with gabbro-hosted disseminated sulphides.

“The maiden three-hole drill program testing Induced Polarisation targets at the Jewel and Western Gem prospects successfully encountered disseminated and massive sulphides, and test-work has confirmed the presence of significant nickel sulphides in addition to the cobalt, gold, silver and copper sulphides,” Blackstone Minerals managing director Scott Williamson said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“The recognition of broad disseminated nickel sulphide zones adds an exciting new exploration dimension to the Gold Bridge district that Blackstone will be following up starting with high powered ground EM to test for massive sulphide zones.

“Blackstone has also entered into an option agreement over a gabbro hosted nickel-copper sulphide project in Labrador, home to the world class Voisey’s Bay nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide deposit.

“Reconnaissance field inspection confirms nickel and copper sulphide fertility, with the company now looking forward to testing this very underexplored area for massive sulphides with modern high powered ground EM.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Web: www.blackstoneminerals.com.au

 

Blackstone Minerals Claims New Massive Nickel Sulphide Discoveries at Ta Khoa

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Blackstone Minerals (ASX: BSX) updated the market on drilling activities underway at the company’s Ta Khoa nickel project (TKNP) in northern Vietnam.

Blackstone Minerals has drilled at two new massive nickel sulphide targets within the Ta Khoa district the company has claimed to have identified Massive Sulphide Vein (MSV), Semi-Massive Sulphide Vein (SMSV) and Net-textured Sulphide (NTS) mineralisation.

At the Suoi Phang prospect, drill hole SP22-01 intersected 2.95 metres of sulphide (including MSV, SMSV and NTS), from which Portable XRF readings indicated the presence of up to 20 per cent nickel.

At the Suoi Chanh prospect, the second drill hole SC22-02 intersected SMSV consistent with the company’s Electromagnetic (EM) targeting.

Elsewhere at Ta Khoa, Blackstone has continued drilling on its most advanced MSV deposits, Ban Chang and King Snake.

This has primarily focused on upgrading current resources into a higher confidence category.

Results from infill drilling at Ban Chang include:

BC21-66
9.6 metres at 2.02 per cent nickel, 1.92 per cent copper, 0.1 per cent cobalt and 3.04 grams per tonne PGE from 60.1m, including 4.8m at 3.38 per cent nickel, 3.07 per cent copper, 0.16 per cent cobalt and 5.29g/t PGE from 63.7m.

At King Snake, the most recent drilling has indicated potential for the deposit to continue to plunge further west and at depth.

Results from infill drilling at King Snake include:

KS21-34
15.7m at 1.25 per cent nickel, 0.69 per cent copper, 0.05 per cent cobalt and 1.66g/t PGE from 249.5m, including 6.02m at 2.18 per cent nickel, 0.62 per cent copper, 0.08 per cent cobalt and 2.97g/t PGE from 250.4m.

“It is an exciting phase of exploration for the company as we start to look at massive sulphide opportunities in addition to Blackstone’s established resources at Ban Chang and King Snake,” Blackstone Minerals managing director Scott Williamson said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“Suoi Chanh is yet another example of our in-house geophysics teams proven track record, with success being achieved from the second drill hole.

“We look forward to continuing to systematically assess the massive sulphide potential at Ta Khoa.”

 

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: admin@blackstoneminerals.com.au

 

Web: www.blackstoneminerals.com.au

 

Blackstone Minerals Set to Drill at Chim Van

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Blackstone Minerals (ASX: BSX) has been granted approvals to commence drilling at the prospective Chim Van target within the company’s 90 per cent-owned Ta Khoa nickel project in Vietnam.

The approvals follow completion of the company’s initial phase of collaboration with the General Department of Geology & Minerals of Vietnam (GDGMV).

The collaboration on the Chim Van exploration target has to date produced:

• Geophysical modelling suggesting a concealed ultramafic target similar to the Ban Phuc disseminated sulphide (DSS) deposit;

• demonstration that the Chim Van features a magnetic anomaly an order of magnitude larger than the Ban Phuc ultramafic intrusion; and

• A drill rig is currently mobilising to the site to commence the first priority drill hole.

“Blackstone is very pleased with the ongoing collaboration with the GDGMV at the Chim Van target,” Blackstone Minerals managing director Scott Williamson said in the company’s ASX announcemen.

“Drilling will test the conceptual geological and geophysical target at Chim Van for nickel-copper-PGE sulphides, and if successful Blackstone will proceed to take steps to secure an exploration license.

“Exploration continues to be a major focus for the company as we look to organically increase our mining inventory available to feed the Ta Khoa Refinery.

“We are excited for the potential that Chim Van has to feed into our longer-term growth profile.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: admin@blackstoneminerals.com.au

 

Web: www.blackstoneminerals.com.au

 

 

Blackstone Minerals Takes Slice of Corazon Mining Pie

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Blackstone Minerals (ASX: BSX) has made a strategic investment in Corazon Mining (ASX: CZN), by way of an initial investment of approx. $2 million that will earn Blackstone 14.32 per cent interest in the common equity of Corazon.

Blackstone’s attraction to Corazon it that company’s interests in The Lynn Lake project a suite of nickel-copper-cobalt assets in Manitoba, Canada.

The Lynn Lake project has historic mining and a current mineral resource of 168,000 tonnes nickel, 81700 tonnes copper and 7900 tonnes cobalt.

Blackstone and Corazon have also entered a Memorandum of Understanding that will see collaboration on the production of upstream and downstream nickel and cobalt concentrates and chemical products, potential offtake and/or Joint Ventures to meet demand from the growing electric vehicle battery industry.

Part of the funds received from Blackstone under the transaction will be used by Corazon to test electro-magnetic (EM) targets identified at the Fraser Lake Complex, which is underexplored and has existing nickel-copper sulphide drilling intersections.

“Blackstone’s recent Ta Khoa Nickel Project Pre-feasibility study demonstrated the economic value and importance of securing upstream supply for its vertically integrated business,” Blackstone Minerals managing director Scott Williamson said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“The Lynn Lake project boasts a meaningful nickel-copper-cobalt resource that the company believes has potential for a significant valuation uplift based on integration with the Ta Khoa Refinery.

“We are also very excited by the exploration potential at the Fraser Lake Complex and look forward to collaborating with the Corazon management team to progress mine planning and development activities.”

Corazon is also offering eligible shareholders the opportunity to acquire new shares at three cents per share through a non-renounceable pro-rata rights issue to raise approximately $10.7 million.

Major shareholder Delphi Unternehmensberatung Aktiengesellschaf has indicated it intends to support the offer and to take up its entitlements.

“The Corazon share registry has evolved significantly over recent months, with nickel focused groups like Delphi and Blackstone seeking to cornerstone the company,” Corazon Mining chairman Terry Streeter told the market.

“This provides the foundations of support required to accelerate exploration and project studies on the potential re-development of the Lynn Lake nickel sulphide project.

“We are also pleased to offer Corazon shareholders the opportunity to support the advancement of our nickel assets via the Entitlement Offer, at a time of strong nickel prices and increased demand for product from the emerging rechargeable battery sector.”

 

TO READ BOTH COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS: CLICK HERE OR CLICK HERE

 

Blackstone Minerals Recommences Underground Mining at Ta Khoa

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Blackstone Minerals (ASX: BSX) has recommenced mining activities at the company’s 90 per cent-owned Ta Khoa nickel project in northern Vietnam.

Blackstone Minerals is using a combination of Australian and Vietnamese mining professionals and operators, to:

• Complete approx. 1,000 metres of development through the Ban Phuc disseminated orebody generating nickel ore representative of the life of mine plant feed.

• Recommission the Ban Phuc nickel concentrator to produce two batches of nickel concentrate for use in the Ta Khao Refinery piloting programs.

• Deliver the first batch of concentrate to Perth for treatment by ALS Laboratories in the first phase piloting program.

• Process and store the second batch for use in the second phase pilot plant which will be built in Son La in 2022.

Ore produced from the mining program will be processed through the existing 450,000 tonnes per annum Ban Phuc concentrator.

Blackstone has finalised studies to temporarily de-rate the existing plants capacity to suit the requirements of the pilot programs.

Blackstone has refurbished the Ban Phuc concentrator over the last six months.

The crushing circuit was recommissioned in November 2021, with ore commissioning planned for the mill and flotation circuit in January 2022.

“The recommencement of mining activity is an important milestone for the company, and the speed at which approvals were secured is a testament to the expertise and relationships our team has on the ground in Vietnam,” Blackstone Minerals managing director Scott Williamson said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“The mining program will provide significant quantities of disseminated ore which will be processed at the existing Ban Phuc nickel concentrator and subsequent pilot plants.

“The opportunity to treat this quantity of ore de-risks both the upstream and downstream business unit development strategies.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: admin@blackstoneminerals.com.au

 

Web: www.blackstoneminerals.com.au

 

Blackstone Minerals Hits Sulphides with First Jewel Prospect Hole

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Blackstone Minerals (ASX: BSX) announced recommencement of drilling activities at the company’s wholly owned exploration assets in British Columbia, namely the Gold Bridge project, formerly the BC-cobalt project.

Blackstone Minerals declared its first drill-hole targeting a large IP anomaly at the Jewel prospect has intersected sulphide mineralisation.

Blackstone has always believed its geological model for the Jewel prospect suggest that it is located within a similar setting to the underground mines of the world class Bou-Azzer primary cobalt district in Morocco.

The current exploration program follows initial exploration success the company achieved at the Little Gem prospect and involved a detailed 3D Pole-Dipole Induced Polarisation (3D IP) and Resistivity Survey.

An analysis of IP survey data and regional soil, rock chip and stream sediment samples has resulted in the identification of multiple large-scale sulphide bearing targets, with the Jewel prospect being high priority.

“Although Ta Khoa remains the company’s primary focus, in the background Blackstone has continued to work-up its exploration targets in British Columbia,” Blackstone Minerals managing director Scott Williamson said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“The first drill hole testing a 700 metres long 24mv/v IP chargeability anomaly at Jewel prospect successfully encountered copper, nickel and cobalt sulfarsenides is a great proof-of-concept result for the project.

“Initial success confirms not only the prospectivity of the Jewel IP target, but also the potential of Blackstone’s 50 kilometres BC cobalt target zone to host nickel, cobalt and copper sulfarsenide deposits of the same style as the World Class Bou-Azzer cobalt district in Morocco.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: admin@blackstoneminerals.com.au

 

Web: www.blackstoneminerals.com.au

 

 

Blackstone Minerals Inks Canadian Nickel Sulphide MoU

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Blackstone Minerals (ASX: BSX) announced making a strategic investment in Flying Nickel Mining Corp, a subsidiary of Vancouver-based Silver Elephant Mining Corp. (TSX: ELEF, OTCQX SILEF) in Canada.

Blackstone Minerals explained that Flying Nickel intends to list on the TSX Ventures Exchange (TSX-V) in early 2022 with its core asset being the Minago nickel sulphide project located southwest of Thompson in Manitoba, Canada.

Minago has a NI 43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated Resource of 44.23 million tonnes at 0.74 per cent nickel for 721.6 million pounds nickel, and Inferred resource of 19.55 million tonnes at 0.74 per cent nickel for 318.9 million pounds nickel.

The company described Minago as an advanced stage development asset with district scale exploration potential and excellent access to infrastructure including renewable hydro power.

Blackstone’s initial investment of C$2.98 million will earn a 6.85 per cent interest in the common equity of Flying Nickel.

Blackstone and Flying Nickel have also entered a Memorandum of Understanding, under which the companies will collaborate on the production of upstream and downstream nickel and cobalt concentrates and chemical products, potential offtake and / or joint ventures to meet demand from the growing electric vehicle battery industry.

“The known mineral endowment of the Minago asset in combination with the potential of the Ta Khoa district represents enviable scale, being highly sought after by OEMs, battery and cathode manufacturers,” Blackstone Minerals managing director Scott Williamson said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“Large, disseminated nickel sulphide deposits of the size and grade of the Minago asset are difficult to find.

“The ongoing structural evolution of nickel supply chains and increasing demand for downstream nickel chemical products for the lithium-ion battery industry, is driving a unanimous view by analysts and the broader investment community that higher nickel prices are here to stay for longer.

“This means that large undeveloped opportunities such as Minago are primed to overcome previous barriers, including access to capital.

“The Flying Nickel Transaction provides Blackstone with opportunity to collaborate on the development of Minago, and confidence to inject future equity into the asset as it is progressively de-risked.

The Ta Khoa Refinery in Vietnam is a logical home for Minago concentrate.

“Manitoba, like Northern Vietnam is blessed with access to renewable hydro power.

“Shipping a high-grade concentrate minimises carbon footprint and is aligned with Blackstone’s commitment to best ESG practices and ambition to become a supplier of choice to the electric vehicle battery industry.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: admin@blackstoneminerals.com.au

 

Web: www.blackstoneminerals.com.au